Staff Member

Shopping is an Olympic sport for some people, while others just need tips on where to find common goods in Berlin. Do you like to shop? What is your favourite part of shopping? What is the worst part?

What did you find confusing to find when you moved aboard? Is there a special item you are still looking for? Do you shop online or ship items from abroad? What should new expats know about finding product in Berlin? Do you have tips or favorite stores?

Where is the best place to shop for groceries? Where are your favorite shopping malls or boutiques?

Thank you for sharing your experience and providing information for others to follow in your footsteps!

Staff Member

I've still only found a few of those cords at very high prices. Maybe someday...

But as far as sharing info, I heard there may be some questions about shopping in Berlin. Of course the Guide to Berlin provides great shopping info for the city, but a little more of an overview for the country:

Shops in Germany are normally open Monday – Friday from 9:00 – 20:00. Smaller shops may close earlier, and grocery stores are often open until 22:00. Shops usually have shortened hours on Saturday and almost everywhere is closed on Sunday. In the build up to Christmas, from early November to mid-December, there are several "Shopping Weekends" with extended weekend hours and openings on Sundays. Some supermarkets located at train stations (Hauptbahnhof, Bahnhof Zoologischer Garten, Friedrichstrasse, Innsbrucker Platz and Ostbahnhof) are open also on Sundays. Spaetkaufs are usually open when other stores are not and offer basic groceries and cold beers for slightly higher prices than grocery stores.

Most stores and supermarkets only accept local EC/Maestro Cards. Smaller shops may only deal in cash.

Grocery Shopping Basics
Discounters (Lidl, Netto, Aldi): Most people shop here as it has basics at the cheapest prices. Be prepared fro no frills and changing goods.
Major Grocery Stores (Kaisers, Rewe, Edeka, Kaufland): These grocery chains most resemble something you’d find in the States or UK. Some shops, like Real, will sell everything from groceries to bicycles to underpants.
Turkish, Asian & African Markets: Turkish markets are plentiful in places like Berlin. Asian & African shops can also provide an array of options.
Online & Specialty: Specialty shops like Berlin’s enormous KaDeWe (Kaufhaus des Westens) sell many of the goods you may be missing – for a high premium. Many people shop online for goods from home.